Couesnon Flugelhorn Question.

I have never been into playing flugelhorns, but recently have the opportunitty to get one in very good condition. The serial number on it 77XXX and I have no idea what they are worth or anything regarding any Couesnon instruments. I was going to sell it for a friend, but another Flugel player told me to buy it. Any ideas regarding quality and playability. Here is a link to the horn in question here:

"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality: there is the one that lives only to lay waste to the woodwinds and strings, leaving them lying blue and lifeless along the swath of destruction that is a trumpeter's fury; then there's the dark side...." --Michael Stewart

Re: Couesnon Flugelhorn Question.

"There are two sides to a trumpeter's personality: there is the one that lives only to lay waste to the woodwinds and strings, leaving them lying blue and lifeless along the swath of destruction that is a trumpeter's fury; then there's the dark side...." --Michael Stewart

Re: Couesnon Flugelhorn Question.

I own and play a Couesnon flugelhorn--and have owned others. After years with other flugelhorns I went back to Couesnon and have never regretted it. Typically intonation isn't as bad as is sometimes claimed and can mostly be alleviated by simply pulling out the 3rd valve slide a quarter of an inch or so then "lipping" notes into pitch. Build quality was always an issue with Couesnon so you may have a few repairs along the way, but it's not going to fall apart in your hands. Valves are also a traditional Couesnon issue--they need to be cleaned and oiled regularly and will look ugly, but they typically work. As a small born horn it needs to be played with finesse and delicacy with a very deep funnel cup mouthpiece (french shank) but you can't beat the sound. You can't play it like a trumpet. If you're looking for a flugelhorn you can play loud and in the upper range look somewhere else. I think the horn you're looking at is a little expensive, but really nice ones do go in that range. Personally I would offer about $400 less than the asking price and see what you can negotiate.

Re: Couesnon Flugelhorn Question.

Hi +1

I play mine as my main flugel and it "sings" on solo passages.. I frequently get longing looks from players on Yammie 631 when it comes to tonal colour. As amzi says, it is a horn that you have to "play" and hear the pitch, that said ,you soon get used to it . Just at the moment I am optimising mouthpiece choice, but it is very tolerant to many mpc choices.